Aussie charged over drugs in Thailand

An Australian man charged with drug smuggling in Thailand says he has made a "big mistake" and is going to "pay for it".
Andrew Hoods, 36, was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport's departure hall on Wednesday afternoon with 3kg of heroin strapped to his body, Thai officials said.
He was charged with drug smuggling after Thai Customs found the drugs concealed in
12 packages.
Thai police said another Australian, believed to be a friend of Hoods, is on the run
after managing to escape from the airport.
During a break in questioning at Bangkok drug headquarters, Hoods said he had been
caught red-handed.
"I was caught with heroin, trying to bring it to Australia," Hoods told the Nine
Network on Thursday.
"I made a big mistake and I'm going to pay for it man, do you know what I mean, I'm
going to pay for it."
The heroin was estimated to have a street value of about 12 million baht
($A494,000), Thai officials said.
But Hoods' thoughts are now focused on his daughter, whose photograph he carries in
his wallet.
"I've got her right, I've got my daughter here with me, know what I mean," he said
while clutching the photo to his chest.
"And that's all I've got man, that's all I've got."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Thursday said diplomats had
met with Hoods.
"Consular staff at the Australian embassy in Bangkok have spoken to the man and are
providing him consular assistance," a DFAT spokesman told AAP.
Consular staff were also in contact with the man's family, he said.
Thailand toughened its drug laws in 2002, but remains a transit point for narcotics
produced in neighbouring Burma, the world's second largest opium producer and a
major methamphetamine hub.
Drug trafficking in Thailand carries the death penalty.